Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-01-14
THE HORSE.
Colds and Coughs in rse-Feeding the
Horses.
Correspondent Rural New Yorker.

Horses.
Correspondent Rural New Yorker.
A very common disease of horses, es-
pecially during the autumn and winter, is
the common COLBY veterinarians called
catarrL, acute catarrh, coryza-due to a
variety OF causes and usually attended
with cough. While certain conditions
of the atmosphere are II UGH more favor
able to the production of a cold than
others, it is important to remember that
nearly or quite all cases are due to an IN
favorable condition of the animals sys-
tenn, rendering him more susceptible to
the vicissitudes of the weather, or to
faults in the care and management. Even
the unfavorable condition of the animal
system may usually be attributed to the
faulty hygienie conditions, SO we may
say the primary cause of cold is usually
to be found in the dietary and manage
ment of the horse. This being the case,
most colds might be prevented by a care
full, prompt observance of the known
laws of health. This is shown by the
fact that animals that are carefully man
aged to avoid as far as possible, the
causes that are most liable to produce
colds and at the same time are kept III
the best possible health, are usually quite
free from disease. In the majority of
cases where all the conditions are care
fully examined, cause for the cold will
be found that might have been pre-
vented by exercising little more fore
thought.
The most fruitful causes of colds are
to be found in sudden changes of the
weather, more particularly when attend
ed by dampness, and the exposure of
the animals to draughts of air, dampness
or to suddenly lowered temperature,
especially when the horse is out of con-
dition, heated or fatigued. This last is
very important to bear in mind because
a fresh healthy horse will withstand
many causes that would readily produce
a cold in a system already weakened
by any cause whatever. A damp stable
is usually underground, or stables where
direct draughts of air can strike the ami
mails, drawing in rain or damp snow, and
allowing the horse to stand in damp
windy places when wet or heated; and ex-
posture in the field to cold, drenching
rains, or when there are heavy dews with
a great difference between the tempera-
ture of day and night. are all COMMON
causes. Predisposing causes include
stitutior of the animal, as unsuitable
feeding, not, close stables filled with foul
air and gasses, and improper care and
treatment.
The treatment of cold depends upon
the severity of the case. In mild attacks
with slight nasal discharge and an oc-
cssional cough, but no perceptable fever
little treatment is necessary beyond
rest in q comfortable stall. preferably a
loose box. Steaming the nostrils night
and morning by pouring boiling water
on wheat bran and allowing
the animal to eat it from a bucket or
nose-bag while steaming hot, is excellent
both for the nasal discharge and cough.
When necessary to make the animal
comfortably warm, apply blankets. II
the limbs are cold, rub actively for If
teen or twenty minutes, and then apply
warm loose bandsges. Daily general
grooming will also be very beneficial in
Where there is a marked fever, agents
should be given that tend to lower the
animal temperature. For this prepare
q fever powder, consisting of two to four
drachms each of chlorate of potash and
nitre, along with ten to twenty drops of
aconite: it may be given in pint of
water twice or thrice daily. If the ami
NAL is weakened or dsbilitated, two
ounces minderus spirit or two drachms
of muriate of ammonia or an ounce of
swee. spirits of nitre may be given with
the above.
Should the nasal mucuous membrane
continue dry find fsverish and the cough